Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

This is a good activity to help children reflect on the Spiritual fruit of patience- how we have to sometimes wait and slowly and carefully do something in order to get to the end.  Because this craft takes time and concentration it is a great all-round reflection activity too!  Below are instructions and some ideas to talk and pray about. You will need: Paper plates, wool or string, thin paper strips Cut slits in the sides of a paper plate and thread wool or string through them to make a weaving frame.  Start to weave the paper strips in and out of the frame. Talk about: When do we have to be patient in life?  Can you think of a time?  Do you find it easy? Why is it sometimes better to be patient than to rush? Have you ever asked God to help you to be patient?  What happened? Pray: Choose colours of paper to reflect your personality.  As you weave, ask God to help you to be more patient Write or draw on the paper slips area...

Today we wanted to focus on the spiritual fruit of patience at our school lunchtime club.  This particular group (all girls!) respond most to doing something with their hands and chatting.  We're making it our mission just to build relationships and pass on something of our own experiences with God rather than teaching an all singing all dancing programme of activities! So... Today we had a little chat about what patience was and then we made some cup and ball games.  For those of you who don't know, this involves a ball attached to a string attached to a cup.  The aim is to get the ball into the cup by throwing it and trying to catch. Each person will need: a paper/ plastic cup, string (an adult arm's length), a ball (we used ball pond or ping pong balls) some sellotape and something to decorate the cup with. Make a small hole in the bottom of the cup and thread some string through.  Tie a knot at the end of the string just inside the cup.  Sellotape...

Here is the prayer station we are going to use for 'patience'. Sometimes we can't do a job quickly.  We need to wait or to take our time so that the job is done well. Slowly put the jigsaw together and check everything is in the right place.  As you are doing it, speak to God in your head and ask him to help you have more patience in your life.